Concealed basin furniture



H. s. MELDAl-n-. 2,426,152 CON-CEALED BASIN FURNITURE Aug. 19, 1947.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April` 27,

INVENTOR. j'fomcfe'. Neldakl Aug. 19, 1947.

H. S. MELDAHL CONCEALED .BASIN FURNITURE 4 Filed April 27. 1945 v 2 sheets-shear 2 1N VEN TOR. )fomce 5. Jfe Zdal Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCEALED BASIN FURNITURE Horace Spencer Meldahl, Charleston, W. Va.

Application April 27, 1945, Serial No. 590,654

One of the features of this invention is the provision of an article of furniture including a wash basin or sink and a concealing cover therefor which in the concealing position provides a work table at desk-top height, and in raised position forms a splashboard extending upwardly from the rear of the article.

Another feature is the provision of an article of furniture in which a wash basin or sink has side or drain boards connected therewith, and the connected parts include a peripheral raised brim to prevent the running of water over the outer margins of the drain boards, and in which said brim can act as a spacing element to prev-ent contact of the lower surface of the cover with water pools standing on the said boards, whereby the existence and use of the basin may be quickly hidden by simply lowering the cover without thereby causing water to be transferred to the cover.

A further feature is in the provision of a base portion constituting a support and having a swingable cover thereon, together with a onepiece wash basin or sink including drain boards, water supply and outlet parts, and having downwardly extending portions engaged with the base portion for preventing relative shifting, so that the cover can be moved to and from concealing position without interference due to relative displacements.

With these and other features as objects in view, as will appear, an illustrative form of construction is set out in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an article of furniture embodying this invention, with the cover raised.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding perspective View, with a cover in lowered position.

Fig. 3 is an upright sectional view, substantially on the plane designated by broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom View of the one-piece top structure forming the wash basin and drain boards in Figs. 1 and 3.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending application, Serial No. 541,740, led June 23, 1944.

It is often desirable, for space consideration, to provide washing facilities in compact apartments, oilices, hotel rooms, Staterooms, etc., and to provide means for quickly concealing the basin in the event of interruption.

The instant structure is an article of furniture which when a concealing cover is in lowered 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-167) position has the appearance of and serves as a desk, dresser, or stand, (hereinafter generally called a "desk), with its table top at a normal height for such service. This table top is provided by a cover which swings about a hinge at the rear, and in lifted position the cover provides a splash board to prevent soiling of the wall. 1n the illustrative form, the article is composed of a base providing two pedestals with a knee-hole space between them, so that these pedestals can serve for holding toilet or dressing articles, stationery, etc., depending upon whether the article is being employed in. an apartment living room, olice, etc. A basin structure is in xed position on top of this b'ase and is illustrated as a onepiece member having a central basin or sink fitting in the upper portion of the knee-hole space, and having lateral drainboards extending over the pedestals. The cover is hinged to the base at the rear thereof, and includes means for concealing the basin structure when the cover is in lowered position.

In the drawings, the base is illustrated as having the end panels I@ and the parallel knee-hole panels Il. A rear panel I2 (Fig. 3) can close the back, and the knee-hole is completed by a rear closing panel l2 and an upper knee-hole panel Ill which is preferably inclined to afford a maximum knee opening at the front, while permitting total concealment of the basin and its pipe conn nections, etc. These panels can be supported by frame and trim structures including the rear stretcher I5 and transverse braces I6 in known manner. The upper portion of the knee-hole space is illustrated as closed by a front part ll which assists in securing the pedestals in proper ,position and may be itself supported by a stretcher piece i8 extending for the length of the article.

The pedestal spaces are illustrated as closed by the hinged doors 2l) through which access may be had to the contents of the pedestals.

The wash basin or sink structure is illustrated as formed in one-piece (Fig. 4) with the central sink 25 and the lateral drain boards 26. Spaced inwardly from the edge are the downwardly directed ribs 2l which closely fit (Fig. 3) within the frame elements provided by stretchers I5, I8 and the cross members I6, so that this basin structure is prevented from shifting on the top of the base.

The basin 25 has its rear portion with an inclined surface 28 upon which are the mounted valve handles 29 for controlling hot and cold water. In the illustrated form, a central raised portion provides for an overflow slot and for supporting the water spout and the knob for controlling the waste outlet. Lateral horizontal ribbed portions Sil provide soap supports, etc. In Fig. 4 are shown the apertures 29a for the stems of valves 29, and the apertures 2912 for the water supply to the spout and for the outlet valve control, as well as the connection 32 for the trap pipe.

It will be noted that all of the operating parts within the wash basin are located below the level of the top of the basin structure, so that there is no interference with the downward movement of the cover, as pointed out hereafter.

rEhe peripheral edge of the basin structure has a raised bead 35 which prevents water from running over this edge, and also provides a rest for the top.

The cover is illustrated as formed of an upper panel 40 of plywood veneer, finished to correspond with the panels iii, El and door 2), etc.; so that its upper surface provides a table topV (Fig. 2) for serving as a desk, dresser, etc. The lower part of this top cover is preferably formed of plywood Veneer 4I nished on its lower surface for resistance against water and moisture. The molding 42 is secured along the front and sides of the panels 4E), fil, which are flXedly secured together. A hinge of piano type has a pin l5 located above the rear portion of the bead 35, and engaging with the leaves lii, fil. The leaf l is located between the plywood members d, il and can be secured xedly thereto by water-proof cement. IThe leaf l1 extends downwardly along the rear surface of the rear panel l2 in illustrated form, and can be secured to this panel and to the stretcher i5 by screws. t will be noted that the molding l2 conceals the edge of the basin structure when in lowered position, (Figs. 2 and 3). A mirror m can be fixed to the lower side of the cover.

When the cover is in lowered position (Fig. Z) the article of furniture has the appearance of an ordinary knee-hole desk, for example. Access to the toilet articles, stationary, etc. within the pedestals can be obtained by opening the doors 20 without moving the cover.

When it is desired to use the basin, the cover structure is raised from the position in Fig. 2, corresponding to the full-time position of Fig. 3, into the position shown in Fig. l, corresponding to the dotted line position in Fig. 3, and by the spacing of a desk from the wall, as for example afforded by base molding on the wall, the cover is steady in this position.

The basin and drain boards are thus exposed and can be used in normal fashion. If splashing of water occurs, this water does not stain the wall above and behind the article of furniture, but is caught by the impermeable surface lll' of the cover. Pools of water on the drain boards 255 do not spill over the edge by reason of the bead 35. The position of the lower surface of the cover causes water to drain therefrom onto the top of the basin structure, forwardly of the rear bead S5; and the piano-type hinge structure is effectivev to prevent spillage of water over the rear edge, even when large quantities are splashed.

It is preferred to have the drain boards, and top areas drain toward the sink 25 as indicated by shading lines in Fig. l. In the event of interruption during washing, the sink can be quickly and directly concealed, by lowering the cover from the position of Fig. l to the position of Fig. 2. The lower surface of the cover element lll then 4 rests upon the bead 35 so that space exists above the drain boards 26, wherewith any drops of water on these drainboards do not contact the cover and soil the same.

IThe illustrative form indicates the assemblage of structures but it will be understood that the invention may be employed in other ways Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A lavatory structure comprising a base, a basin and drainboards overlying the entire base, said basin and drainboards having a continuous raised peripheral bead extending above the base and with the bead having its upper edge located substantially in a horizontal plane, a hinge means at the rear of the structure, and a at cover mounted on said hinge means, said hinge being disposed relative to said cover so that the pintle thereof is in rear of the inner face of the cover when raised and so that said inner face of the cover will lie in a plane intersecting the drainboards inside of the peripheral bead, said cover in upwardly swung position forming a splash board above and to the rear of the basin and drainboards to prevent soiling of the room wall and in lowered position resting upon the said bead concealing the basin and drainboards, and providing the base the appearance of a desk having a flat table top at normal fiat desk-top level, whereby the lowering of the cover can be accomplished at any time for thereupon immediately concealing the basin and drainboards, said bead being effective to prevent Contact of the bottom surface of the cover with water lying on the drainboards, said cover including a peripheral molding which in the said lowered position conceals the edges of the basin and drainboards.

2. A lavatory structure comprising a base having spaced pedestals, a basin located between the pedestals, drainboards overlying the pedestals and constructed and arranged to discharge into the basin, said basin and drainboards having a continuous raised peripheral bead around the structure with the bead having its upper edge located in a horizontal plane, a piano hinge extending from one side of the base to the other side thereof and having a lower leaf fixed at the rear of the structure, and a swingably mounted at cover fixed to the upper leaf of the hinge said hinge being disposed relative to said cover so that the pintle thereof is in rear of the inner face of the cover when raised and so that said inner face of the cover will lie in a plane intersecting the drainboards inside of the peripheral bead; said cover having a dimension parallel to the hinge axis at least equal to the corresponding combined dimension of the basin and drainboards and in upwardly swung position forming a splash board above and to the rear of the basin and drainboards to prevent soiling the room wall and in lowered position resting upon the said bead and covering and concealing the basin and drainboards, and providing with the pedestals the appearance of a knee-hole desk with a at horizontal table top at normal at-top-desk level, whereby the lowering of the cover can be accomplished at any time for thereupon immediately concealing the basin and drainboards, said bead being effective to prevent contact of the bottom surface of the cover with water lying on the drainboards.

3. A lavatory structure comprising a base having spaced pedestals providing a knee-hole assembly; a one-piece top member having a basin said horizontal plane, a waste connection from the basin, parts of said water and waste `connections being located in the rear of the knee-hole space; said base including panel means in the knee-hole space and extending between the pedestals in front of the water and waste connections for concealing the same; and a swingably mounted cover which in upwardly swung position forms a splash board above and to the rear of the basin and drainboards and extending for the entire length thereof and draining thereto to prevent soiling of the room wall, said cover being mounted so that when raised the inner face thereof will lie in a plane intersecting the drainboards whereby splash draining therefrom will pass onto the drainboards and into the basin, said cover being effective in lowered position to rest upon said bead and to cover and conceal the top member; said cover having a flat upper surface in its lowered position effective to provide with the pedestals the appearance of a knee-hole desk with a lat horizontal table top at normal flattop-desk level, whereby the lowering of the cover can be accomplished at any time for thereupon immediately concealing the basin and drainboards.

4. A lavatory structure comprising a base, a one-piece top member supported by the base and having a length at least equal to the length thereof and having its front edge above the front of the base, said top member having downwardly extending parts for engaging the base and thereby preventing relative horizontal shifting of the top member and base, said top member comprising a basin and also having end drainboards sloped to discharge into the basin, said top member also having a continuous raised peripheral bead with the upper edge of the bead located essentially in a horizontal plane, a continuous hinge extending from one side of said base to the other having a lower leaf xed at the rear of the base with the pivot axis above the level of said horizontal plane, and a flat top cover longer than the top member and xed to the upper leaf of the hinge and swingable therewith between a raised position in which the positioned front surface of the cover is in front of the hinge axis and the peripheral bead and in which the cover forms a splash board above and to the rear of the basin for the entire extent of the basin and drainboards whereby to prevent soiling the room wall, and a lowered position in which the positioned lower surface of the cover is held by said peripheral bead out of contact with the drainboards and in which the positioned upper surface is effective to provide the appearance of a desk with a horizontal unbroken top extending over the entire base and being at normal lat-top-desk level, the edge of the cover having a peripheral molding which in the lowered position extends downwardly and around the edge of said top member for concealing the same.

HORACE SPENCER MlELDAHL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 56,876 Bashore Aug. 7, 1866 157,874 Schwarz Dec. 15, 1874 464,521 Posz Dec. 8, 1891 1,020,324 Stephenson Mar. 12, 1912 1,756,746 Hogan Apr. 29, 1930 1,914,729 Roos June 20, 1933 2,146,939 Coordes Feb. 14, 1939 

